System for handling electronic mail

ABSTRACT

A method of conveying an email message by receiving an email message from its sender, the email message including an address field in which an account name portion of the address field is a descriptor of the intended recipient of the email message and which is different from a correct account name of the intended recipient, wherein the descriptor being a combination of one or more identifying elements associated with the intended recipient. The method further includes locating in a database of descriptors and email addresses the email address associated with the descriptor and forwarding the message to the email address yielded by the database.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to systems for addressing and conveyingelectronic mail messages and refers particularly, though notexclusively, to a system which has an easier and more logicaldetermination of email addresses and, further, which is capable ofhandling and possibly delivering normally undeliverable electronic mailmessages.

DEFINITIONS

Throughout this specification a reference to the internet is to be takenas including a reference to the world wide web.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years communication by email has become commonplace. Email, acontraction of the words “electronic mail”, refers to systems whichallow messages to be sent between sites connected by data links. Themost popular email system is based on the internet, a worldwide networkof interconnected computer networks. Any user connected to the internetcan send email to any other user. Internet users use email-clientsoftware which connects them via a telephone line and a modem to agateway into the internet. The email client sends the message via theinternet to a mail server. A mail server is a computer connected to theinternet and equipped to receive, store and forward or deliver emailmessages. If person A wishes to send an email to person B, person Aenters the message into his computer, which then sends the message datato a mail server via the internet. Person B then instructs his computerto check whether the mail server has any messages for him, and when sucha message is found, the mail server sends the data to his computer,where person B can access it.

The same principles apply to email systems which do not connect to theinternet, for example, many corporations use email within theirenterprise, in which case it is transmitted via their intranet.

Email messages are typically structured according to a protocol known asSMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) which includes specification of anaddressing format that enables email messages to be routed or directlydelivered to the correct destination SMTP server. The address forms partof each email's header information. The usual address structure is“accountname@hostname” where “accountname” is the name of the user towhom the email is destined to be delivered; and “hostname” is the nameof the host computer where the user has an account. “Hostname” generallycomprises a hierarchical series of domain names, separated by periods.For example, “inform.com.au” is the name of the host computer named“inform” in the “com” (commercial) domain within the “au” (Australian)domain.

The “accountname” is typically an arbitrary alpha-numeric string chosenby the user. For example, “the boss@inform.com.au” could be the emailaddress for an individual person at “inform”, yet that person might notbe named “boss”, but could be the boss, or owner, of the business.

As evidenced by the foregoing example, there is not necessarily anyobvious correlation between the email address and the name of the actualaccount holder, as no standards have been established to regularise thisaspect of the SMTP protocol. Consequentially, a person wishing to sendan email to a person called John Smith at a business known asInformatel, but who does not know his email address, might guess thatthe address is “john_smith@informatel.com.au; johnsmith@informatel.com.au; or “jsmith@informatel.com.au”, or any number ofsimilar permutations.

If the email address is incorrect, it is common practice for the mailserver to “bounce” the email—that is, to return it to the sender alongwith a message explaining the reason the message could not be delivered.The most common reasons for delivery failure are that the “hostname”specified in the address field could not be not found, for examplebecause of a spelling error; or that the user name specified in theaddress field did not correspond to any user registered with the hostspecified.

In an effort to provide a means of discovering correct email addresses,numerous directory databases have been established, whereby a person'sor corporation's email address can be searched for based on keyindicators such as name, address, telephone number, geographicallocation, and so forth. Such directories have only partly solved theproblem of obtaining email addresses as they are not comprehensive. Theyare also inconvenient to use because the person sending the email mustaccess a directory and search for the desired email address as an extrastep in the process of sending an email.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved system for addressing and conveying email messages whichaddresses some of the limitations of the prior-art addressing andconveying schemes, and allows the sender of an email to use certainwell-known descriptors of the intended addressee as an alternative tothe addressee's actual account and domain names.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedsystem for dealing with undeliverable email messages by attempting todiscern the likely correct email address based on the incorrect onesupplied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of conveying an email message including an address field inwhich an account name portion of the address is a descriptor of theintended recipient of the message and which may be different from theaccount name of the intended recipient, including the steps of locatingin a database of descriptors and email addresses the email addressassociated with the descriptor, and transmitting the message to theemail address yielded by the database.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a system handling undeliverable electronic mail, including thesteps of receiving an email message including an invalid destinationaddress, searching a database for records partially or completelymatching parts of the destination address and, if a prescribed thresholdof match is exceeded, forwarding the email message to a valid emailaddress retrieved from the database according to the result of saidsearch.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of conveying an email message including the steps of receivingan email message forwarded by a sender, the email message including aninvalid destination address, searching a database for records partiallyor completely matching parts of the destination address, and sending anotification message to the sender of the email message, thenotification message advising the sender of the results of the databasesearch.

The invention also provides a method of conveying an email messageincluding the steps of receiving the email message from its sender, theemail message including an address field in which an account nameportion of the address is a descriptor of the intended recipient of themessage and which may be different from the account name of the intendedrecipient, locating in a database of descriptors and email addresses theemail address associated with the descriptor, and transmitting themessage to the email address yielded by the database.

Preferably, the database includes fields corresponding to commonly-usedidentifiers such as a telephone number, business name, street address,or personal name.

Preferably, the descriptor is a telephone number associated with theintended recipient. Alternatively, the descriptor may be a business nameassociated with the intended recipient. Further alternatively, thedescriptor may be a personal name associated the intended recipient.

Furthermore, the descriptor may be a part of a street address associatedwith the intended recipient.

The descriptor may also be a combination of one or more identifyingelements associated with the intended recipient. For example, thedescriptor may comprise a concatenation of a name and city, such as‘johnsmithsydney’ or, for greater clarity, ‘johnsmith.sydney’. Thisextension of the inventive concept can be useful for differentiatingbetween several people with the same name. The descriptor may alsoinclude a concatenation of name and telephone number, such asjohnsmith.61266525689. This, again, is helpful in differentiatingbetween multiple people with the same name, or in cases where there area number of individual person's email address associated with the onetelephone number. It is envisaged that the invention would be arrangedso that a great variety of combinations of descriptors can be used in aflexible arrangement. A consequence of this is that the more informationincluded in the descriptor, the less likely for there to be ambiguity oruncertainty.

The present invention may provide a method of generating and conveying areturn email notification to the sender of the email message, whichreports the status of the database search and whether or not the emailhas been forwarded. Preferably it will also report when the emailmessage has been received and/or read. This may also includenotification to the recipient of the email that a message has beenreceived. The notification may include notification by internet,telephone, facsimile, pager or satellite, and may include the forwardingof the email message. The recipient may be able to select or specify ifthey are to be notified, and/or if the message is to be forwarded.Status messages may include notification of failure to match thedescriptor with an email address, reporting of the email address oraddresses found, and other status information which may be of interestto the person creating the email message.

The present invention may also provide a method of generating anotification to an unregistered sender and/or recipient of an emailmessage to encourage them to register with the system of the presentinvention. The notification may include information on the advantages ofthe system and/or a registration request. Preferably, the notificationwill be sent to a particular address no more than a prescribed number oftimes in a given period.

An advice of the action taken may also be sent to a registered userwhose email message (either as sender or receiver) was the cause of thenotice to be sent to the unregistered user.

The invention also includes means for carrying out the method ofconveying email messages described in the preceding paragraphs.

Another embodiment of the invention is that especially formatted emailmessages are interpreted as database queries and not as email messagesto be readdressed and forwarded. According to one aspect, for example, aperson wishing to ascertain the email address of John Smith can send anemail addressed to johnsmith@invention.com with the keyword “find” (forexample) as the text of the message, and an email will be returned tothe inquirer reporting the results of the search of the database. Thejohnsmith component may be expressed in different ways, such as, forexample jsmith, smithj, john.smith or john-smith.

In another aspect, the present invention includes a computer equippedwith email client software adapted to execute the steps of recognisingthat an email address of a message being sent does not include a hostname, for example by the absence of the @ symbol, and appending apredetermined hostname to the address before sending the email.According to this aspect, use of the email by the sender is beneficiallysimplified as the sender of the email needs enter only the descriptorinformation into the email client's address field, after which the emailsender adds the host name of the server adapted to perform the steps ofthe present invention. For example, the email sender enters an addressof johnsmith in the address field of the email client and selects“send”. The client then appends @invention.com to form the addressjohnsmith@invention.com, and sends it to that host. The hostinvention.com then looks up the database, finds that johnsmith is, forexample, techsup@megabig.com.nl and forwards the email to that address.

In an alternative form, the terminal or client (the “terminal”) of thesender may recognise that the address of the message being sent is notcomplete and/or correct. It therefore sends a message (by any suitablemeans, not necessarily email but including email) to the server whichthen searches the database for the complete/correct email address of theintended recipient. If the complete/correct address is not found, thesender's terminal is advised and the sender can make the appropriatedecision as to what to do. If the complete/correct address is found itis forwarded to the sender's terminal which then inserts thecorrect/complete address in the email message and sends the message tothe intended recipient. If more than one possible complete/correctaddress is found, the sender's terminal is advised and the sender canmake the appropriate selection.

The invention also provides a method of determining an email addressincluding providing a database where email addresses are linked withdescriptors relevant for a person at each email address so that a usercan provide one or more of the descriptors enabling a search to beconducted of the database to determine the relevant email address, thedescriptors including at least one of given name, surname, address,domain name, name of business, and/or telephone number(s).

The database may be at the server, or separate. If separate, the serverwould recognise that the information given in the account name portionof the address was insufficient or not in the correct form for delivery,and therefore pass the necessary message to the operator of the databasewho would locate the correct or complete address, and forward themessage. Alternatively, the operator of the database could pass thecorrect or complete address back to the server to enable them to sendthe message.

The invention also includes a database to enable the method to beperformed, the database having fields for email addresses, and separatefields for each of, for example, given name, surname, telephone number,domain name, name of business and/or address; at least one of theseparate fields being completed for each email address.

The invention also provides an address system to enable users ofcomputer-based telecommunication systems to independently locate anaddress of a user, the address system including at least one portionwhich is the numeric characters of a number of a telecommunicationsdevice of the user, the at least one portion being that portion whichidentifies the user. The telephone number may include the area codewithin the user's country, or may include the country code within theuser's country; or may include the personal access number within theuser's country.

Preferably, the computer-based telecommunication system is the internet.

The device may be a telephone, facsimile, pager, mobile telephone orsatellite connected technology.

At least one portion of the descriptor may be alpha numeric; with thealpha optionally including at least a part of a name of the user.

The alpha may precede the numeric, or the numeric may precede the alpha.

The present invention may also include an enquiry facility which willallow the sender of the proposed email to ascertain the details of therecipient's universal messaging contact details. These contact detailsmay include the prospective recipient's street address, telephonenumber, facsimile number, mobile telephone number, email address, domainname, pager, or satellite connected details or any other email addressinformation he or she chooses to make available.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described byway of non-limitative example only with reference to the accompanyingillustrative drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the various functional units of afirst Embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the various functional units of asecond Embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a representation of one example.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for the example of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for a further embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, sender 1 is a standard email client, complying withSMTP, sending an email intended for delivery to recipient 5. The authorof the email using sender 1 composes an email message and sends it toSMTP server 2. When SMTP server 2 attempts to send the message torecipient 5, in the conventional manner, the message will not bedeliverable if the address is invalid. For example, the author mighthave used the address: “john.jones@mega.com” when in fact there is nosuch user registered with the host: “mega.com”. The correct address forJohn Jones could be: “jjones@mega.com”. Alternatively, the author mayhave omitted the hostname altogether, resulting in an address consideredinvalid by SMTP server 2.

Having determined that the message is undeliverable, SMTP server 2 thenforwards the message to undeliverable email server 3. Undeliverableemail server 3 includes a database including records which relatekeywords to valid email addresses. Such keywords might include aperson's name, business name, telephone number, street address, or anyother identifying information that helps identify the person. On receiptof the undeliverable email, undeliverable email server 3 uses substringsof the email address as keywords in an attempt to match a record indatabase 4.

In this preferred embodiment of the invention, the software is arrangedso that if all substrings of the user name part of the email address,delimited by non-alphanumeric characters, match the keywords in full orin part of a database record, the email is forwarded to the emailaddress retrieved from that database record. Continuing the exampleabove where the email was addressed to: “john.jones@mega.com”, thedatabase lookup using “john” and “jones” as keywords finds a record forJohn Jones, including the correct email address, namely:“jjones@mega.com”.

If the database lookup is ambiguous, that is there is more than onerecord including the keywords “john” and “jones”, undeliverable emailserver 3 sends a message back to the author explaining that the originaladdress used was invalid, and reporting the several “john jones” recordsfound, so that the author can select the correct address. When thecorrect one of several possibilities has been selected, the authorcompletes the address and forwards the email message; or returns themessage to undeliverable email server 3 which then forwards it to thedesired recipient.

The database lookup function in the embodiment of the inventiondescribed in relation to FIG. 1 is normally performed at the site ofundeliverable email server 3. However, this function could be providedby a database server located elsewhere.

Furthermore, database 4 may well, in practice, not be located at onesite but may be distributed over multiple sites. For example, if server3 receives an email addressed with a descriptor including the word“japan”, a database query could be sent to a suitable database server inJapan. Similarly, if undeliverable email server 3 were to receive anemail addressed to a phone number starting with, for example, “49”, itcould either send a query to the telephone number database in Germany,or it could forward the whole message to a suitable server in Germanyfor further handling.

Referring to FIG. 2 where similar components have similar referencenumerals with a prefix number 2, email client 21 is a standard emailclient complying with SMTP. The author of the email message in thisexample does not know the address of the person he wishes to send it to,but does know the person's telephone number 6193312345 which, includingthe country code, 61 in this example, is unique to that person. Theauthor therefore addresses the message to 6193312345@phoneserv.net,phoneserv.net being the host name of the special server of thisexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

E-mail client 21 then sends the SMTP message addressed to6193312345@phoneserv.net to internet 22 via a suitable router. Themessage is subsequently routed to server 23 which is running on the hostcalled phoneserv.net. Server 23 is adapted to access database 24 whichis a database mapping email addresses to descriptors, including, in thisexample, personal name, business name, street address, and telephonenumber. In this example, a search of the entries for telephone number6193312345 returns the email address xyz@domain.com. Server 23 thensubstitutes the address xyz@domain.com for the received address of6193312345@phoneserv.net and sends the message with this address onwardsvia the Internet to the desired destination.

To further enhance the usefulness of this embodiment of the invention,the software is arranged so that multiple keywords and/or fields can becombined within the descriptor of the address. For example, a databaselookup of the descriptor johnsmith may return many matches. To narrowthe search, part or whole of his address can be added to the descriptor.For example, if the sender knows that John Smith lives in CentennialStreet, Bankstown, he could use the descriptor johnsmith.bankstown orpreferably johnsmith.centennial.bankstown. The latter would probablyreturn a unique database match. The database engine of this embodimentof the invention applies well-known software techniques to allowfree-form matching of multiple keys within descriptors.

It is envisaged that where possible the telephone number of theaddressee would be used as the descriptor. By including the country codeand/or area code in the telephone number, such a descriptor is likely touniquely specify the desired addressee. Furthermore, telephone numberscan be readily ascertained, for example from directory assistanceservices or telephone directories. Where several people may beassociated with one telephone number, for example several employees of abusiness or several residents at one home, further qualification can beadded to the descriptor. For example, the person's given name or namescan be included to form a descriptor such as john.61247515280. Thedatabase engine can be arranged so that if the search of the databasegives returns a unique email address, any further qualification of thedescriptor is ignored. In the example of john.61247515280, if61247515280 returns a unique match, the prepended “john” is ignored.

In the case where no match is found or multiple matches result inambiguity, server 23 returns a message to the sender explaining thenature of the problem which may include additional information on someor all of the matches. The sender might then try again using a differentor expanded descriptor by for example:

-   johnsmith61247515280.

In an alternative in this embodiment of the invention, email client 21is further adapted to automatically include a predetermined hostname ifnone is included in the address entered by the author of the email beingsent. In other embodiments, server 23 is adapted to accept emailaddresses which do not include a hostname. These enhancements allow theuser to enter only a descriptor, for example just a telephone number,the database then providing the server with the required, relevantinformation obtained from the database, and the server then convertingthis to the relevant email address.

Whereas the signalling connections of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1are described as being discrete paths it will be understood that inpractice these connections can advantageously be implemented as anetwork such as the Internet.

For the embodiment of FIG. 2, although the database search function inthe embodiment of the invention described above is performed at the siteof server 23, it will be understood that this function could be providedby a database server located elsewhere. Furthermore, the database maywell, in practice, not be located at one site but be distributed overmultiple sites. For example, if server 23 receives an email addressedwith a descriptor including the word “japan” a database query could besent to a suitable database server in Japan. Similarly, if server 23were to receive an email addressed to a telephone number starting with,for example, “49”, it could either send a query to the telephone numberdatabase in Germany, or it could forward the whole message to a suitableserver in Germany for further handling.

The invention is also applicable to unifixed messaging systems wherebymessages sent by one medium may be delivered by another. For example, byusing voice-recognition technology, text-to-speech, speech-to-textrecognition or keypad operation, a telephone message may be delivered byfacsimile, internet or intranet, or by satellite; or an email messagesent via the internet may be delivered to a mobile telephone, satellite,pager, facsimile, or the like.

It is also envisaged that part or all of the functionality of theinvention could be provided by software running at the email sender'ssite. For example, an email client could be adapted to automaticallysend a search request to a remote database, substitute a returned emailaddress for a descriptor entered by the author of the email, and thensend the email to that address. It is of course also envisaged that partor all of the invention can be implemented as software running at aninternet service provider's site.

In an alternative form, the terminal or client (the “terminal”) of thesender may recognise that the address of the message being sent is notcomplete and/or correct. It therefore sends a message (by any suitablemeans, not necessarily email but including email) to the database serverwhich then searches the database for the complete/correct email addressof the intended recipient. If the complete/correct address is not found,the sender's terminal is advised and the sender can make the appropriatedecision as to what to do. If the complete/correct address is found itis forwarded to the sender's terminal which then inserts thecorrect/complete address in the email message and sends the message tothe intended recipient. If more than one possible complete/correctaddress is found, the sender's terminal is advised and the sender canmake the appropriate selection.

This allows for security in that the sender will know that the emailmessage will only be send if there is certainty. It also may allow amanual override in that the decision to send the email message is up tothe sender. Furthermore, the text of the message is not being held inthe database or search engine during the processing, it is being held atthe sender's terminal.

If a number possible complete/correct addresses are found, the selectionof one by the sender may cause the selected address to be inserted inthe email message “To:” field and for it to be sent.

Also, when the database search/request is sent by the sender's terminalit may specify a degree of certainty (eg. 80%) so that when the databaseis searched it will select only those possible addresses where thedegree of certainty of a correct match is the same as or greater thanthat specified.

The example of FIGS. 3 and 4 accepts mail in a number of formats, usingthe mail address provided as keywords to search a database of people andtheir real email addresses. Various modules of the system run on anumber of servers.

The domain name server 31 translates the various names into IPaddresses. It also defines the mail servers. The first mail server 32receives and stores all mail for the system of the present invention. Itis programmed to store all mail into a single account.

The mail “client” 34 allows the system of the present invention to takecontrol of the client for such activities as fetching and replying tomail. It is set to fetch mail, for example, every two minutes. When newmail arrives, the client sets a flag in the flag application 35 to showthat mail needs to be processed.

The client is set up with multiple mail “accounts”, each of which hasits own “From:” address. These accounts are used when replying to mailto tag different categories of mail, so the “From:” address and “ReplyTo:” address sent in reply can be used to select an appropriate responsewhen a customer replies to them. For example, all messages sent tocustomers, which ask them to select from a list of possible matches, hasthe “From:” address of “x % select@invention.com”,

All mail messages are stored in the client, being moved out of the “in”folder into the folder appropriate to the message, eg messages that haveno match in the people database 38 are stored in the “no match” folderfor future re-matches.

The flag application 35 stores a status flag that mail is ready forprocessing. This application is separate from the system of the presentinvention to avoid deadlocks that might occur when the system of thepresent invention tries to run a script in the mail client 34 while theother is trying to send a message to the find application 36, whichcontains the intelligence for the system of the present invention. Itperiodically polls the flag application 35 to see if mail is available.If the flag is set, it processes the mail one by one. The “To:” addressof each mail item is used to determine the action required. Theflowchart for this is illustrated in FIG. 4.

Items with no “To:” address are ignored. Delivery failures messages arereturned to the original sender with an advertising message. Selectionmessages contain “% select@invention.com” in the “To:” address, andthese are processed to extract and act on the selection.

Messages that are addressed to other servers are sent on unmodified,except the “return-Path:” is tagged to allow detection of deliveryfailure.

Other messages are treated as a request for the present inventiondatabase lookup function.

As well as the specified fields in the database, there is anothercalculated field which is a concatenation of all other fields (except“email”) with spaces between them. This is the only field that isactually searched during a lookup. The algorithm for processing the“To:” address of messages to be processed as lookup requests is asfollows:

-   -   Except in the instance of domain name, everything after the “@”        or “%” may be ignored.    -   Everything other than letters or numbers is interpreted as a        word break.    -   What remains is the list of keywords.    -   A search is performed to find all records which contain any of        the keywords.    -   Every record found is then examined, and if the combined field        for that record contains every keyword, that record is added to        the match list.    -   If there is more than one match, a selection request is sent.    -   If there is no match, a request for more keywords is sent.    -   If there is one match, the mail is redirected to the appropriate        address.

The database and web server 37 has a built-in web server. The web serverallows the administrator to edit the people database 38 and view themail log 39, with appropriate access security. It also allows customersto add their details via the web, but not to edit them once they areadded.

The people database 38 has a script 40 that is run when it is edited,which sets a flag in the application. This causes it to re-search thedatabase for every mail item in its “no match” folder, so that customerscan add their details to the database after mail addressed to them isreceived, and have the mail correctly delivered. Mail items in the “nomatch” folder may be held there indefinitely, or for a defined period oftime.

The people database 38 stores all information about the people. As wellas the defined fields, it also has a calculated “combined” field, whichis a combination of all fields except the email address. This combinedfield is used for keyword searches. Some of the fields have inputchecking: the telephone fields must be numeric only (so that searchesbased on telephone numbers work) and the email field is mandatory.

It may be necessary to tag the “Reply-To:” address of email messages sothat undeliverable mail could be trapped and acted on appropriately. Asimple TCP/IP application may be used to send messages.

For all embodiments, if the server located an excessive number (whichmay be a defined number) of potential matches for the complete/connectaddress it may raise a query with the sender requesting furtherinformation on the proposed recipient to enable the number of potentialmatches to be reduced. For example, if the sender has supplied thekeywords “john.smith.richmond” with there being a large number of citiesin the world named “Richmond”, the number of potential matches would bequite high. Therefore the server could request more information such as,for example, a way of designating which city of Richmond is relevant.This may be by providing country and state details, or by providing thecountry and/or state and/or distinct telephone codes.

To now refer to FIG. 5, an additional function may be included in thepresent invention to enable automatic notification/information to besent by email to people who may be interested in registering with thesystem and having the relevant information in the database. The criteriafor a person to be sent this notification/information email is based onemail messages they have sent to or received from, a person registeredto use the present invention and thus whose information is on thedatabase. If, for instance, a particular registered user sends an emailto a non-registered user, the system will identify the non-registereduser and automatically send an email message to that person informingthem of the system and its benefits. Also included in the email messagewill be mention of the registered user name or at least the emailaddress of the person, who either recently sent them an email message orbeing a person to whom they recently sent an email message.

The automatic email message generated will be received shortly after theuser receives the original email that triggered its creation.

There are many possible mechanisms for implementing this additionalfunctionality. One method involves additional configuration at theparticipating ISP's site, along with an upgrade in functions of thedatabase search engine server. FIG. 5 shows diagrammatically theelements involved in this embodiment of the present invention. The ISP'sSMTP server 42 is configured to forward undelivered mail to the mailserver 43. The server 43 attempts to resolve the correct recipientaddress through the information contained in the original TO: addressfield. If it is successful, the server 43 contacts the recipients ISP(SMTP server) 46 and forward the email, the recipient 47 typicallyreceives the email via a connection between his email client and theISP's POP/IMAP server. The additional configuration required for theserver 42 involves the periodic delivery of an extract of the mail logon the ISP's SMTP server 42 to the mail server 43. The mail log 44typically contains detailed information about all mail sent and receivedby the mail server 42. An extract of this mail log 44 is generated toinclude the destination address and sender address pairs for every emailthat has passed through the server since the last time the extract wascreated (multiple instances of the same pair would be removed). Theextract is then sent to the mail server 43 where it is processed.Processing involves querying the database 45 for the existence of eachand every address in the mail log extract. If the address being queriedis not found to exist in the database 45 (signifying an unregistereduser), the system generates a notification/information email fordelivery to the unregistered person who had previously received from orsent an email to the registered user. That notification email outlinesthe benefits of the system, advise of the person they have received orsent an email message to or from a registered user, and invite them toregister. To avoid unregistered users repeatedly receiving informationon the system and an invitation to register, the database 45 and queryengine may be suitably equipped to determine how many email messageshave been sent to a particular unregistered user, and to cease sendingthe email messages when a defined limit is reached. This may be an openended feature, or one whereby after a prescribed period the unregistereduser may again receive information on the system. Also the auto-mailerfeature should be optional for each registered user. That is, if aregistered user doesn't want the system contacting recipients with thenotification email message then the registered user should be able toswitch this feature on/off. The information forwarded to theunregistered user may include the name/contact details of the registereduser whose email triggered the sending of the information.

The descriptor for any one registered user may be changed by that userfrom time to time via the worldwide web, email, telephone, mail, or asotherwise allowed.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in thisspecification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more ofthe individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings.All of these different combinations constitute various alternativeaspects of the invention.

It will also be understood that the term “comprises” (or its grammaticalvariants) as used in this specification is equivalent to the term“includes” and should not be taken as excluding the presence of otherelements or features.

The invention may be embodied in other forms that those specificallydisclosed herein without departing from its spirit or essentialcharacteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in allrespects only as illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of theinvention is commensurate with the appended claims rather than theforegoing description.

1. A method of conveying an email message including an address fieldcontaining a descriptor of an intended recipient of the email message,the descriptor being different from an email account name of theintended recipient, the method comprising: sending a database query to adatabase containing a plurality of identifying elements associated withthe intended recipient and email addresses to search for the emailaddress associated with the descriptor, wherein said descriptorcomprises at least one of the identifying elements; and transmittingsaid email message to said email address found during said search of theemail addresses if a unique email address is located.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said descriptor includes one or more identifyingelements selected from a list including a telephone number associatedwith said intended recipient, a business name associated with saidintended recipient, a personal name associated with said intendedrecipient, and a part of a street address associated with said intendedrecipient.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said descriptor includes aconcatenation of a name and city.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein saiddescriptor includes a concatenation of name and telephone number.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: generating and conveying a returnemail notification to the sender of said email message.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein said return email notification reports the status ofsaid database search and whether or not said email message has beenreceived.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said return emailnotification also reports when said email message has been received. 8.The method of claim 6, wherein said return email notification includesnotification of a failure to match said descriptor with an email addresslocated within said database.
 9. The method of claim 5, wherein saidreturn email notification includes notification of a failure to matchsaid descriptor with an email address located within said database. 10.The method of claim 1, wherein especially formatted email messages areinterpreted as database queries, and not as email messages to bereaddressed and forwarded.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein saiddatabase comprises fields for email addresses, and separate fields foreach of given name, surname, telephone number, name of business and/oraddress; at least one of the separate fields being completed for eachemail address.
 12. A method for handling undeliverable electronic mail,comprising: receiving an email message including an invalid destinationaddress that includes a descriptor; sending a database query to adatabase, which includes a plurality of identifying elements associatedwith said invalid destination address, to search for records partiallyor completely matching parts of said invalid destination address,wherein said descriptor comprises at least one of said plurality ofidentifying elements; and forwarding said email message to a validunique email address retrieved from said database according to theresult of said search for records.
 13. The method of claim 12, whereinsaid descriptor is selected from a list including a telephone numberassociated with said intended recipient, a business name associated withsaid intended recipient, a personal name associated with said intendedrecipient, and a part of a street address associated with said intendedrecipient.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein said descriptor includesa concatenation of a name and city.
 15. The method of claim 12, whereinsaid descriptor includes a concatenation of name and telephone number.16. The method of claim 12, further comprising: generating and conveyinga return email notification to the sender of said email message.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, wherein said return email notification reports thestatus of said database search and whether or not the email message hasbeen received.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said return emailnotification also reports when said email message has been received. 19.The method of claim 17, wherein said return email notification includesnotification of failure to match said descriptor with an email addresslocated within said database.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein saidreturn email notification includes notification of failure to match saiddescriptor with an email address located within said database.
 21. Themethod of claim 12, wherein especially formatted email messages areinterpreted as database queries, and not as email messages to bereaddressed and forwarded.
 22. The method of claim 12, wherein saiddatabase comprises fields for email addresses, and separate fields foreach of given name, surname, telephone number, name of business and/oraddress; at least one of the separate fields being completed for eachemail address.
 23. A method for conveying an email message comprising:receiving an email address forwarded by a sender, said email messageincluding an invalid destination address that includes a descriptor;sending a database query to a database, which includes a plurality ofidentifying elements associated with said invalid destination address,to search for records partially or completely matching parts of saidinvalid destination address, wherein said descriptor comprises at leastone of said plurality of identifying elements; and sending anotification message to the sender of the results of said databasesearch.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said descriptor is selectedfrom a list including a telephone number associated with said intendedrecipient, a business name associated with said intended recipient, apersonal name associated with said intended recipient, and a part of astreet address associated with said intended recipient.
 25. The methodof claim 23, wherein said descriptor includes a concatenation of a nameand city.
 26. The method of claim 23, wherein said descriptor includes aconcatenation of name and telephone number.
 27. The method of claim 23,further comprising: generating and conveying a return email notificationto the sender of the email message.
 28. The method of claim 27, whereinsaid return email notification reports the status of said databasesearch and whether or not the email message has been received.
 29. Themethod of claim 28, wherein said return email notification also reportswhen said email message has been received.
 30. The method of claim 28,wherein said return email notification includes notification of failureto match said descriptor with a record located within said database. 31.The method of claim 27, wherein said return email notification includesnotification of failure to match said descriptor with a record locatedwithin said database.
 32. The method of claim 23, wherein especiallyformatted email messages are interpreted as database queries, and not asemail messages to be readdressed and forwarded.
 33. The method of claim23, wherein said database comprises fields for email addresses, andseparate fields for each of given name, surname, telephone number, nameof business and/or address; at least one of the separate fields beingcompleted for each email address.
 34. A method of conveying an emailmessage comprising: receiving an email message from its sender, saidemail message including an address field containing a descriptor of theintended recipient of said email message and which is different from anemail account name of said intended recipient, the descriptor beingselected from a plurality of identifying elements associated with theintended recipient; sending a database query to a database, whichcontains a plurality of identifying elements for a plurality ofrecipients and email addresses to locate a unique email addressassociated with said descriptor; and forwarding the message to the emailaddress yielded by the database.
 35. The method of claim 34, whereinsaid descriptor is selected from a list including a telephone numberassociated with said intended recipient, a business name associated withsaid intended recipient, a personal name associated with said intendedrecipient, and a part of a street address associated with said intendedrecipient.
 36. The method of claim 34, wherein said descriptor includesa concatenation of a name and city.
 37. The method of claim 34, whereinsaid descriptor includes a concatenation of name and telephone number.38. The method of claim 34, further comprising: generating and conveyinga return email notification to the sender of the email message.
 39. Themethod of claim 38, wherein said return email notification reports thestatus of said database search and whether or not the email message hasbeen received.
 40. The method of claim 39, wherein said return emailnotification also reports when said email message has been received. 41.The method of claim 39, wherein said return email notification includesnotification of failure to match said descriptor with an email addresslocated within said database.
 42. The method of claim 38, wherein saidreturn email notification includes notification of failure to match saiddescriptor with an email address located within said database.
 43. Themethod of claim 34, wherein especially formatted email messages areinterpreted as database queries, and not as email messages to bereaddressed and forwarded.
 44. The method of claim 38, wherein saiddatabase comprises fields for email addresses, and separate fields foreach of given name, surname, telephone number, name of business and/oraddress; at least one of the separate fields being completed for eachemail address.
 45. A method of determining an email address comprising:maintaining a database where email address are linked with a pluralityof identifying elements relevant for a person at each email address sothat a user can provide one or more of the identifying elements; whereinupon recognition by a server that information in an address field of theemail address is insufficient or not in the correct form of delivery, asearch is conducted of the database to determine a relevant emailaddress, the plurality of identifying elements including at least one ofa given name, surname, address, name of business, and/or telephonenumber of said person.
 46. The method of claim 45, wherein the databaseis at said server.
 47. The method of claim 45, wherein the database isseparate from said server.
 48. The method of claim 45, wherein saidcorrect or complete email address is passed from the database back tothe server to enable it to send said necessary message.
 49. The methodof claim 45, wherein said database comprises fields for email addresses,and separate fields for each of given name, surname, telephone number,name of business and/or address; at least one of the separate fieldsbeing completed for each email address.